I'm Flying on September 11th ... It Feels Weird

Good morning everyone,
I hope you feel renewed and refreshed after the weekend AND the short week.
It's Monday morning and we're back in the trenches of our work... and hopefully our passion. I am.

As I got organized for my week, I realized that I'll be flying cross-country on Thursday, September 11th. I don't think I've flown on that date in the past 7 years. It made me wince... for a moment and then it generated some memories of that fateful day.

Although I live in NYC now, I was living in Austin,TX on that day. However, the impact was one of the strongest experiences of my lifetime. First, my sister has lived in NY for 30 years. Frankly, she's the first person I called. Fortunately, she was NOT there that day, but was in WI, visiting a friend. Then, being alone in my house in the far suburbs (actually out in the country) outside of Austin, I called my husband and then my son -- they were both in Austin. My husband was at work; my son (the musician) was sleeping. They were both okay... thank God. Now, you might wonder why I would be worried about their well-being. Well, as I watched the horror on Good Morning America, the local news jumped in to alert Austin that it was a "target" because it's the capital of TX and home to President Bush. They were evacuating government offices and then telling everyone else to stay off the roads and not drive home.

My husband had put his car in the shop the night before and had my car that day. I was scheduled to work at home. So, there I was, alone, far away from anyone I loved, wondering if the world would come to an end that day. I was pacing, frantic, on the phone to anyone that served as a lifeline ... glued to TV for each new piece of news.

NOTE: I think we ALL suffer from Post Traumatic Shock from seeing the videos of those planes hitting the towers, the towers going down, people jumping out, etc. They are etched. In fact, within weeks of moving to NY, I was sitting in my apartment when I heard a loud plane fly by. This was unusual, because planes don't fly low over NYC since that event. I panicked momentarily (that's how Post traumatic stress works .... you're easily triggered.) It was an airforce jet ... it was fleet week in NYC, but I didn't know.)

Anyhow, that week of September 11th is blur. As a clinical social work therapist, all I wanted to do was fly to NY and be of service and help with the families. There were no flights AND after that I had too many work commitments get in the way. I always felt guilty for not helping.

But, here's the purpose of this column today. It was September 11th that was the catalyst for my entire Re-Invention of my life. My lesson that day became my motto:
"Life is way too short ... to be unhappy." It was within weeks of that day that I finally told my husband that I wanted to separate. We'd been unhappy for many years and had just fallen into complacency. it was time for us to go separate ways and search for what might be more fulfilling.

That was the beginning of my life now ... which is dedicated to YOU ... to helping each of you figure out what you yearn for, how to get it and to reach fulfillment.
Please don't misunderstand -- I'm not telling anyone to get divorced. That's what I needed. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be living in NY. I wouldn't have this company. I wouldn't be writing a book that will inspire others to Re-Invent, etc.

What decisions do you have to make ... that will add joy, happiness, contentment and fulfillment to your life for the rest of your life? What are you waiting for?

We don't have tremendous losses of lives from things like 9/11 and the War ... only for you to be complacent. It's time to WAKE UP ... be of service to others, contribute to the world being a better place, tap into your talents and LIVE life to the fullest.

Point: Make this the year, the month, maybe even the day that you make some decisions to improve the quality of your life! I urge you. You and all your loved ones will be happier for it.

And, I'm here if you need me. Have a wonderful week.

I'm off to San Francisco on Sept. 11th to begin an amazing course called Power & Contribution. It's a one-year course, where I will be gathering with 130 people from all over the world. We will meet every other month for a long weekend in S.F. Each of us will take on an "impossible promise" for the world -- in other words, each will take on a huge project to truly make a difference. Not sure what my promise will be yet, although I know it will have something to do with people being passionate and fulfilled and aging with dignity. (I'm sure I'll be writing about it all as it goes on this year.)

Til next time,
Ann

Random Thoughts

You know, when I hear about people being bored, I just don't get it.
When I hear about people just wanting to sit around and watch TV, I just don't get it.
I am busier than I have ever been in my life and I love every minute of it.

Now, some of you might be thinking: "Well, I don't have money to do things or I don't have time or there's nothing happening where I live." Phooey. Filling your life with things that fulfill you doesn't have to cost money, take a lot of time AND you can always find those things.... if not in your town, then nearby.

Begin to ask yourself the question: What do I really love to do? What makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

For me, unless I'm traveling to speak someplace, I spend most of my days indoors, in my apartment ... working. I have coaching calls with clients, I am writing proposals, contracts, and completing my next book. So, yes, I work all day too. But, by night time, I'm raring to get up and out and to do things.
Take this week. Monday night I went to a class -- part of a 10-week seminar I'm taking called Creating Happiness. I look forward to every Monday night. Tuesday night, I went to see Damn Yankees (the play) with my friend Susan. Wednesday night, I went to a little club in the Village to hear poetry (it cost only $7.00) and was awesome. Tonight, for $15.00 I'm going to hear Jazz and Folk music at a local museum. My nights are full.

Of course, tomorrow night I'll probably crash and I'll be getting ready to fly out Saturday morning ... but who knows, I might still find something to do.
Yes, I live in NYC .. where there is always something happening.

I do other things. I do volunteer work with teenagers, I mentor some folks on their business (gratis.... through my professional association)

The point is this: Being active and engaging in activities that fulfill you energize you, keep you young and happy. It's a no-brainer. And speaking of brain .. it'll keep yours working!

Just some thoughts on boomers aging for fulfillment and fun ... on this Thursday afternoon.
Have a great weekend.
Ann

How Can I Be So Enlightened AND So Stupid at the Same Time?

Do you ever feel like you've done a lot of work on yourself -- that you're evolving, that you're spiritual, that you're on that road to enlightenment AND yet..... you make really stupid choices, behave in very non-enlightened ways, and feel you utterly suck at this whole growth thing?
Well, I do.

Over the last dozen or so years, I've made strides. I have good integrity, I take responsibility for my actions, I practice non-attachment (well some), I use the processes of intentionality and attraction. I'm a good person. It's been an arduous climb and one I'm very much still on. I've never felt that I mastered these ideals, but I feel I'm definitely on the journey. I also feel I have age and wisdom and experience on my side.

But then, life happens and I still react in old ways and cause lots of messiness in my relationships. I get dramatic, I judge (particularly myself), I whine, I get pessimistic and I doubt and question everything. What's a girl to do?

I suppose the clue here is: be gentle with myself ... know that as a human being I won't have it all together all the time. And, then, too, of course .... make better choices OR catch my poor choices earlier, as in more quickly. That would be a good one.

Point: Don't expect yourself to be perfect all the time. Do your best, love yourself, utilize your experiences to help you grow and know that everything, absolutely everything, is an opportunity to grow and learn and evolve.

From a practical standpoint ... this speaks to a sense of purpose and fulfillment. To best know yourself you need to be open to evolving and growing. Then, you'll be in a position to find what fulfills you, what gives you juice and how you want to spend the rest of your wild and crazy life. Happy searching boomers.